244 SPARROWS. 



towns and cities, and the habitations of men, a tree an- 

 swers his purpose, and a comfortable nest he will there 

 build, with the rare addition of an arched top into the 

 bargain, which possibly he may have learned from that 

 knowing bird, the Magpie. In default of a tree, or a 

 house, a chink in a rock, or a hole in a wall, suits him ; 

 but, after all, the nooks and eaves of buildings are his 

 favourite resorts : accordingly, in London, where he has 

 his choice, he will often select droll places. Amidst the 

 carved foliage of the capital of some Corinthian column, 

 a projection of straws, with now and then a feather, an- 

 nounce a nest in preparation. 



But some London Sparrows aspire still higher, one 

 pair having actually built in the Lion's mouth, over Nor- 

 thumberland House, at Charing Cross. A still more 

 extraordinary place was pitched upon by a north-country 

 ouple. A coal-vessel, from Newcastle, put into Nairn, 

 in Scotland, and while there, two Sparrows were fre- 

 quently observed to alight on the top of the vessel's 

 mast, while the vessel remained in port. This occa- 

 sioned no great surprise to the crew ; but, after putting 

 to sea, the two Sparrows were seen following the sloop, 

 and, having come up with her, resumed their posts at 

 the top of the mast. Crumbs of bread were scattered 

 upon the deck, with a view of enticing them down, of 

 which they soon availed themselves ; and, after eating 

 heartily, again returned to the mast-head. By the time 

 the vessel had been two days at sea, they became much 

 more familiar, and descended boldly for the purpose of 

 feeding. The voyage was a long one, lasting for some 

 days ; when, on reaching the river Tyne, to which they 

 were bound, the nest, with four young ones, was carefully 

 taken down, and being put, in the presence of the old 

 birds, into the crevice of a ruined house, on the banks 

 of the river, they continued to rear their brood. 



When thus upon the subject of young Sparrows, we 

 may direct attention to the very rapid growth of their 

 feathers in hot weather. On the ninth of August, a 



